Hazare's health deteriorates, aides tell him to give up fast

Anna Hazare fasts to call for tougher graft law <br>

Mumbai: Anna Hazare's health deteriorated tonight but there was no move to hospitalise him immediately even as his close aides persuaded him to give up his three-day fast which he began earlier in the day.

According to a doctor who attended the Gandhian at the MMRDA grounds at Bandra-Kurla complex, Hazare is suffering from 'viral infection' and his fever shot up to 102 degree F while the blood pressure rose to 170/96 level. His pulse rate has also gone up to 98, the doctor said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan tonight said he spoke to Hazare and appealed to him to reconsider his decision to continue his fast owing to his health condition.

Team Anna member Shazia Ilmi said Hazare was again examined by a team of doctors late tonight but he is not being taken to hospital. Doctors are also keeping a close watch on him at the fast venue.

The 74-year-old Gandhian, who is on a fast in protest against a "weak" Lokpal Bill, is resting and not talking to anyone, she said.

Key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, some people from Hazare's Ralegan Siddhi village and his close supporters were by Hazare's side.

"Anna's health has deteroriated but he is not going to be hospitalised at this moment," an India Against Corruption (IAC) member Preeti Sharma Menon told reporters here.

"The IAC members are still persuading him to withdraw his fast. IAC has also called some expert doctors. Few more tests would be conducted on Hazare. At this moment he is sleeping," she said.

"A five-member team of private doctors is attending on Anna Hazare. Also a four-member team from the state-run JJ hospital is observing him," she added.

"Medical check-up on Hazare would be conducted again. The medical reports would be given to the government not the IAC. His condition is fluid," Menon said.

A doctor who examined Hazare in the evening said, "There is an imbalance in the physical parameters because of which Anna's blood pressure has increased from 140/86 in the morning to 170/96 now.

There is also some infection in his chest due to cough. Because of fever Anna hasn't been able to eat for the past 4-5 days. His health is deteriorating and he is not in a position to walk."

"Anna was suffering from fever since the l-5 days. Yesterday, his fever was a bit low but he had fever throughout today. He is also facing acute weakness. His pulse rate has also gone up to 98 as compared to what it was in the morning," the doctor said.

Hazare on his part earlier in the day told his supporters, "When the doctor checked me, I did not have fever. But now, the fever has returned."

Hazare said he had not eaten anything for the past three days as he was unwell.

"I haven't had food for past three days. Today for two- and-a-half hours, I was standing atop a vehicle. Still, I don't have any problems," he said shortly after close aides Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi appealed to him to end his fast.

Concerns about Hazare's health came to the fore as he was suffering from viral infection.

"Anna is unwell. Will you request Anna to withdraw his fast," Bedi had asked the crowd earlier, which responded with a loud "Yes". However, Hazare, appearing quiet waved his hand in a gesture of "No".

Talking to reporters later, Kejriwal said, "We tried to persuade Anna several times to withdraw his fast, eat food and take medicines. Medicines cannot be taken on an empty stomach. But Anna is not at all ready to break his fast."